Business owners in state of shock over snapper ban
Business owners are shell-shocked by state government’s decision to ban snapper fishing in most of South Australia.
SA Business
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Copper Coast Council mayor Roslyn Talbot says the Yorke Peninsula community is feeling like its voice has not been heard in the snapper ban debate.
On Friday, the state government announced that fishing for snapper will be banned for three years from November 1 in the majority of South Australian waters.
Catching snapper would only be allowed in the state’s South-East between February and October but under heavily restricted conditions. The announcement was made following consultation undertaken across 23 days which drew more than 900 responses.
“There’s quite a bit of disappointment,” Ms Talbot said.
“The government asked for feedback on the recommendation but it doesn’t seem they have listened to the response.”
Ms Talbot said the biggest concerns in the community were the effect the ban was going to have on commercial fishermen, charter boats and the tourism industry
“We do understand the importance of preserving the species,” she said. “But the feedback I received was that people would have preferred to see the seasonal ban extended. There were also questions about whether more data needed to be collected, to ensure this was the best decision.”
Moonta Hotel co-owner Kym Phillips was worried what the ban would mean for the broader community, saying it was a huge fishing area, with snapper a major drawcard.
Some businesses contacted by The Advertiser for comment said they were still too shocked and upset by what the ban could mean for their enterprises to comment on the record.